Shocked and Sad: Rape victim dies at Singapore hospital; body to be flown back tonight

Singapore: The 23-year-old victim of the brutal gang rape and assault in Delhi that had triggered an outrage across India died early this morning here after putting up a brave battle for life for nearly a fortnight.

The girl, who was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45 AM (2:15 AM India time). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

"We are very sad to report that the patient passed away peacefully at 4.45am on 29 Dec 2012 (Singapore time)," the hospital's Chief Executive Officer Dr Kelvin Loh said in a statement.

"Her family and officials from the High Commission of India were by her side. The Mount Elizabeth Hospital team of doctors, nurses and staff join her family in mourning her loss," the statement said.

The body has been moved to the mortuary in the Singapore General Hospital and will be flown back to India by a chartered plane. Accompanied by her family, the body is expected to arrive in Delhi in the night.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a host of political leaders condoled the death of the girl and paid rich tributes to the victim of the sexual assault for her brave fight.

'CONDITION WORSENED LAST NIGHT'

Late last night, the hospital said the condition of the rape victim had taken a "turn for the worse".

"As of 9 pm (6:30 PM IST), the patient's condition has taken a turn for the worse. Her vital signs are deteriorating with signs of severe organ failure," Loh had said in a statement.

"This is despite doctors fighting for her life including putting her on maximum artificial ventilation support, optimal antibiotic doses as well as stimulants which maximise her body's capability to fight infections," the CEO had said.

During her treatment in Safdarjung Hospital, the girl's condition had recorded several ups and downs. Three days after the attack, her gangrenous intestine was removed.

December 16, 2012: 23-year-old paramedical student gang-raped and brutally attacked by six men in a moving private bus around 9 pm and thrown out after 30 minutes of rigorous torture along with her male friend. They were admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital the same nightDecember 17, 2012: Police indentified four out of the six men who raped and assaulted the girl. Victim's full extent of internal injuries determined by doctorsDecember 18, 2012: The horrendous incident shocked nation leading to protests by students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University on the Ring Road near the Munirka. The incident shook up the Parliament with Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan went into tears demanding death penalty for rapists. A total of four accused arrested, including bus driver and main accused Ram Singh, search for two others continued

December 19, 2012: Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital treating the victim announced that she was alert but still not out of danger. Permit of the bus, in which the incident happened, was cancelled by the Transport Department

December 20, 2012: Students from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia held demonstrations outside Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit's residence against the government's failure to curb crimes against women. The eyewitness and male friend of the victim recorded statement

December 21, 2012: Safdarjung doctors said that the victim was stable, but still critical. She was taken off the ventilator. Her male friend identified one of the accused, Mukesh, during the Test Identification Prade at Tihar jail. Police conducted raids in Haryana and Bihar and nabbed one more accused

December 22, 2012: India felt the spark of youths with the protests picking up into a nation-wide outrage. Thousands gather at India Gate leading their march towards Raisina Hill to show their anger. Victim remained critical. However, she recorded her statement to the sub-divisional magistrate

December 23, 2012: Protests turned violent with the protesters defying prohibitory orders of the government. Police used tear gas, water cannons and lathicharge to disperse the mob. Several along with Delhi Police Constable Subhash Tomar injured during clashes at India Gate. Victim's heath remained critical with she being putted and took off of ventilator support throughout

December 24, 2012: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made his first statement and appealed for calm, assuring stringent measures for women in the country. Two gang rape accused were brought before a Delhi court where they committed their horrible crime and pleaded for death penalty

December 25, 2012: Despite being critical, the victim was responding to the treating. However, her health deteriorated the same night with the girl suffering from major cardiac arrest . Victim’s statement was recorded again after CM Sheila Dikshit complained Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde about interference by senior police officials in the process

December 26, 2012: Protests continued. Constable Subhash Tomar succumbs to injuries sustained during December 23 protests at India Gate, was cremated with full state honour. Following cardiac arrest, victim was shifted to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth HospitalDecember 27, 2012: The victim was declared ‘extremely critical’ in the ICU of Mount Elizabeth Hospital

December 28, 2012: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi assured nation of speedy justice in the case. Victim's condition worsened with signs of multiple organ failure. She got infection in the lungs and abdomen as well as brain injury

December 29, 2012: The victim succumbs to massive internal injuries after battling with them for over 12 days. She died at 2:15 am (Indian Standard Time) on December 29. Peaceful protests going on across nation Section.144 imposed across National Capital, Security tightened, 10 metro stations shut, All roads leading to Raisina Hill are closed

'VICTIM FOUGHT BRAVE BATTLE'

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore T C A Raghavan told reporters that the family was yet to decide on the plans for the last rites back home.

He said the girl fought a brave battle till the end. She was brought to Singapore for being provided good medical treatment.

The envoy "The family is shattered by this development. At the same time, they realised that best possible medical attention was given. And in the end it was the scale of injuries that proved too much for the medical attention provided to her".

He appreciated the help extended by the Singapore Foreign Ministry, the government and the Mount Elizabeth Hospital for all their support in the last two days.

Replying to questions on the shifting of the girl from Delhi to Singapore, he said consultations were held between doctors of Safdarjung hospital and Mount Elizabeth Hospital and they must have given full thought to it before taking it.

Asked whether doctors felt that she could have died to her shift from Delhi to Singapore, Raghavan said "no such sentiments were expressed to me. Both the doctors (P K Verma ofSafdarjung and Yatin Mehta of Medanta Medicity) said she was very badly injured in the assault of December 16 night".

Declining to go into the details of the family, he said they had requested that the privacy of their identity be protected.